CVE-2016-7255
The kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, and 1607, and Windows Server 2016 allow local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
Key facts
- CVSS score
- 7.8 (v3.1)
- Severity
- HIGH
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- EPSS score
- 81.0% (100th percentile)
- In CISA KEV
- Yes, added November 3, 2021
- In EU EUVD
- Yes (EUVD-2016-8111)
- Published
- November 10, 2016
- NVD last modified
- September 10, 2026
- Status
- Analyzed
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Added to the KEV catalog on November 3, 2021; federal remediation due May 3, 2022. Known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD)
This vulnerability is also tracked by ENISA as EUVD-2016-8111 in the EU Vulnerability Database. ENISA flags it as known exploited. Last updated in EUVD on September 10, 2026.
View on the EU Vulnerability DatabaseAffected products
- microsoft / windows 10 1507
- microsoft / windows 10 1511
- microsoft / windows 10 1607
- microsoft / windows 7
- microsoft / windows 8.1
- microsoft / windows rt 8.1
- microsoft / windows server 2008
- microsoft / windows server 2008
- microsoft / windows server 2012
- microsoft / windows server 2012
- microsoft / windows server 2016
- microsoft / windows vista
Certified products that may be affected
9 FIPS 140 or Common Criteria certified products, from automated matching by sec-certs.org.
- Windows 7 BitLocker™ Drive Encryption - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1332 - historical
- Microsoft Windows 7 Kernel Mode Cryptographic Primitives Library (cng.sys) - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1328 - historical
- Windows Vista Enhanced Cryptographic Provider (RSAENH) - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1002 - historical
- Windows Vista Enhanced DSS and Diffie-Hellman Cryptographic Provider (DSSENH) - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1003 - historical
- Windows Vista Boot Manager (bootmgr) - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 978 - historical
See all 9 in the Security Certifications Explorer.
References
- http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/one-bit-rule-system-analyzing-cve-2016-7255-exploit-wild/(Broken Link)
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privilege-Escalation.html(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94064(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037251(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255(Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
- https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255/(Broken Link)
- https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html(Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-7255(US Government Resource)
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745/(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40823/(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41015/(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
Last updated September 17, 2026 · Source: NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST.org EPSS
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